A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 05 eBook

Immediately after learning the death of Don Antonio
de Mendoza, his imperial majesty, who was then in
Germany, nominated the Conde de Palma to succeed to
the viceroyalty of Peru: But both he and the Conde
de Olivares declined to accept. At length Don
Andres Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquis of Cannete, was
appointed to the office. Having received his
instructions, he departed for Peru and arrived at Nombre
de Dios, where he resided for some time for the purpose
of suppressing a band of fugitive negroes, called
Cimarrones who lived in the mountains, and
robbed and pillaged the merchants and others on the
road between Nombre de Dios and Panama. Finding
themselves hard pressed by a military force sent against
them under the command of Pedro de Orsua, the negroes
at length submitted to articles of accommodation,
retaining their freedom, and engaging to catch and
deliver up all negroes that should in future desert
from their masters. They likewise agreed to live
peaceably and quietly within a certain district, and
were allowed to have free trade with the Spanish towns.

Having settled all things properly in the Tierra Firma,
the viceroy set sail from Panama and landed at Payta
on the northern confines of Peru, whence he went by
land to Lima, where he was received in great pomp in
the month of July 1557. Soon after the instalment
of the new viceroy, he appointed officers and governors
to the several cities and jurisdictions of the kingdom;
among whom Baptisto Munnoz a lawyer from Spain was
sent to supersede my father Garcilasso de la Vega in
the government of Cuzco. In a short time after
taking possession of his office, Munnoz apprehended
Thomas Vasquez, Juan de Piedrahita and Alonzo Diaz,
who had been ringleaders in the late rebellion, and
who were privately strangled in prison, notwithstanding
the pardons they had received in due form from the
royal chancery. Their plantations and lordships
over Indians were confiscated and bestowed on other
persons. No other processes were issued against
any of the other persons who had been engaged in the
late rebellion. But Munnoz instituted a prosecution
against his predecessor in office, my father, on the
four following charges. 1st, For sporting after the
Spanish manner with darts on horseback, as unbecoming
the gravity of his office. 2d, For going on visits
without the rod of justice in his hand, by which he
gave occasion to many to despise and contemn the character
with which he was invested. 3d, For allowing cards
and dice in his house during the Christmas holidays,
and even playing himself, contrary to the dignity becoming
the governor. 4th, For employing as his clerk one
who was not a freeman of the city, nor qualified according
to the forms of law. Some charges equally frivolous
were made against Monjaraz, the deputy-governor, not
worth mentioning; but these processes were not insisted
in, and no fines or other punishment were inflicted.